Job Machine

as wages stagnate
up store square
feet sore from
eight days a
weak excuse
for profit margins
measure of time
out of your way
to serve every
guess who benefits
for full time team
effortless smiles
hastily pasted on
ward off the hate
err, man, its hue
of green light
or heavy heart
of the matter
to someone, to you

Melody Charles was born in Texas and raised in California and Colorado. She’s been based in Tulsa since 2004, when she moved here to attend the University of Tulsa. In 2008, she edited Volume 7 of Stylus: TU’s Student Journal of Art and Writing.